Saturday morning session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is holding its 194th Annual General Conference Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7. This blog summarizes the key points from the Saturday morning session.

Follow along with our blog updates below, or watch each session live here.

Here is a glossary of the Latter-day Saint terminology used in this blog.

Saturday, 12:01 pm

President Henry B. Eyring — All will be well because of temple covenants

President Henry B. Eyring gave his conference message through a prerecorded video. He spoke about temples and told members they can find peace there.He started with a story, from when he was president of Ricks College, about a trip to the Rexburg temple. While he was in the temple, the new Teton Dam collapsed. He and his wife were unable to contact their children or drive home.He said his wife prayed in a motel room for their children and others. When he fell asleep, his wife woke him, asking how he could sleep. He reassured her that there was no need to fear because of the temple and the covenants they had made there sealing them as an eternal family.

"These words then came clearly to my heart and mind. So, I said to my wife, 'Kathy, whatever the outcome, all will be well because of the temple. We have made covenants with God and have been sealed as an eternal family.'" — President @EyringHB #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/K5otn51OBr

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 6, 2024President Eyring said through sealing covenants, members can receive the assurance that their family connections will be eternal.He told members that participating frequently in temple ordinances creates "a pattern of devotion" and invites the Holy Ghost to strengthen them."Qualifying to make sacred covenants is not a one-time effort but a lifetime pattern. The Lord has said it will take our full heart, might, mind, and strength," he said.

As we attend the temple, we can be reminded of the eternal nature of our spirits, our relationship with the Father and His divine Son, and our ultimate desire to return to our heavenly home.

Frequent participation in the ordinances of the temple can create a pattern of… pic.twitter.com/OdxKludiUT

— Henry B. Eyring (@EyringHB) April 6, 2024President Eyring said during his temple sealing to his wife, then-Elder Spencer W. Kimball told them to live in a way they could walk away easily. He said just 10 years later, he and his wife were ready to leave when he received a calling because of revelation from a prophet in the temple."There is nothing more important than honoring the covenants you have made, or may make, in the temple. No matter where you are on the covenant path, I urge you to qualify and become eligible to attend the temple. Visit as frequently as circumstances will allow," he said.— Emily Ashcraft

Saturday, 11:53 am

Elder Jack N. Gerard — Integrity: A Christlike attribute

Elder Jack N. Gerard, general authority seventy, encouraged church members to act with integrity by being true to God, true to each other, and true to their divine identity.

"May we follow our exemplar, the Savior of the world, and not shrink, but live a life that is true to God, to each other and to our divine identity." — #ElderGerard #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/1Ns8yLbbCh

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 6, 2024"A life of integrity requires us to first and foremost be true to God," he said."Integrity flows from the first great commandment to love God. Because you love God, you are true to him at all times. You understand there is right and wrong, and there is absolute truth — God's truth," he said.Elder Gerard said living with integrity means "we do not lower our standards or behavior to impress or be accepted by others. You do what is right and let the consequence follow."He drew from the story of Daniel in the lion's den, to teach that being true to God will increasingly set members apart from the world."The oppositional pull of this world is an essential part of God's plan of salvation. How we respond to the pull is the essence of who we are — a measure of our integrity," Elder Gerard said.While integrity "flows from the first great commandment to love God," Elder Gerard said being true to each other flows from the second, "to love our neighbors as ourselves."The worldly pull can be as direct as to destroy fidelity in marriage or as subtle as posting anonymous comments critical of church doctrine or culture," he said.

"Our focus is on the Savior, and we are careful to avoid actions that may be perceived as serving our own interests." — #ElderGerard #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 6, 2024Finally, Elder Gerard taught that church members must be true to their divine identity.He said the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were "true to their divine identity, the light and knowledge they received, and true to the person they knew they could become."— Collin Leonard

Saturday, 11:32 am

Elder Ulisses Soares — Covenant confidence through Jesus Christ

Elder Ulisses Soares, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about covenants and the power and bond that come with them that give people a "higher and holier confidence for our day-to-day lives."He mentioned the understandable excitement that there are so many temples being announced and built around the world. However, after he attended a recent temple dedication, he "wondered if sometimes we get lost in the excitement of having new temples in our cities and communities and neglect the holier purpose of the sacred covenants made in the temple."

"As we make covenants in holiness before God and commit to follow the Savior, we receive the power to change our hearts, renew our spirits, and deepen our relationship with Him."#ElderSoares #GeneralConference #UniverseBYU

— The Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 6, 2024People can gain confidence in covenants by preparing before entering the temple, changing the experience within the temple and transforming life outside of the temple. Elder Soares said a bishop he knows treats Primary classes as temple preparation classes and starts off the year meeting with Primary children and making a plan to prepare all year to enter the temple.

"If there is one thing we could possess — and one thing we could pass on to our children and grandchildren that would help in each test and trial ahead — it would be confidence in the covenants made through Jesus Christ." #ElderSoares #GeneralConference #UniverseBYU

— The Daily Universe (@UniverseBYU) April 6, 2024He encouraged people to always have their next temple appointment scheduled, whether the temple is near or far to them."The house of the Lord is where we can be transformed in higher and holier ways. So, when we walk out of the temple, transformed by our hope in the promises of the covenants, armed with power from on high, we take the temple with us into our homes and lives," he said.— Jenny Rollins

Saturday, 11:14 am

Elder Alexander Dushku — Pillars and rays

Elder Alexander Dushku, general authority seventy, addressed his talk toward members who have not had "overwhelming spiritual experiences." He expressed a hope that his words would provide peace and assurance.He talked about church founder and prophet Joseph Smith's First Vision and said the Restoration began with "a boy's desperate prayer and a pillar of light."Elder Dushku said members also have a desperate need to know for themselves. However, he said expecting overwhelming experiences can lead members to miss constant smaller experiences."That is the Lord's typical pattern, brothers and sisters. Rather than sending us a pillar of light, the Lord sends us a ray of light, and then another, and another," he said.

"If we have received the gift of the Holy Ghost and are striving to exercise faith, repent and honor our covenants, then we are worthy to receive these divine rays constantly." - #ElderDushku #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/AAB6jdGaHR

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 6, 2024He encouraged members to consider how they experience light from the Lord, and said each individual's experience is different."There are many ways to receive heavenly rays of testimony. … They may not be dramatic, but all of them form part of our testimonies," Elder Dushku said.He said he has not "seen a pillar of light," and shared multiple small rays that build his testimony. Elder Dukshu said the "reality and power" of each ray reinforces others and grows into a "core of light-filled spiritual experiences."

"Perhaps no one ray is strong enough or bright enough to constitute a full testimony, but together they can become a light that the darkness of doubt cannot overcome." — #ElderDushku #GeneralConference

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 6, 2024"In time and through 'great diligence,' we too can have our own pillar of light — one ray at a time. And in the midst of that pillar, we too will find a loving Heavenly Father, calling us by name, pointing us to our Savior Jesus Christ, and inviting us to 'Hear Him!'" he said.— Emily Ashcraft

Saturday, 10:59 am

Sister J. Anette Dennis — Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ

Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, talked about the symbolic covenants that "create the kind of relationship that allows God to mold and change us over time."

"Each person on earth is a beloved son or daughter of God. When we choose to be part of a covenant, it enhances and deepens our relationship with Him." — #SisterDennis #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/xHCJ0X3GgJ

— GeneralConference (@ldsconf) April 6, 2024"Jesus taught through stories and symbols — a mustard seed to teach the power of faith, a lost sheep to teach the worth of souls, a prodigal son to teach the character of God," she said, outlining the type of symbolic action that "enhances and deepens our relationship with him."Baptism by immersion, Sister Dennis said, "is symbolic of the Savior's death and resurrection to new life."The ordinance of the sacrament is "symbolic of Christ's flesh and blood shed for us." Sister Dennis said the garment of the holy priesthood "reminds us that the Savior and the blessings of his Atonement cover us throughout our lives."

"I invite you to choose a deeper relationship with God by making covenants with Him in the house of the Lord." - #SisterDennis #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/Xm8s0wjm7V

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 6, 2024"By keeping my covenants and obligations with God, including wearing the garment of the holy priesthood, my very life can become a personal symbol of my love and deep gratitude for my Savior, Jesus Christ and my desire to have him with me always," she said.— Collin Leonard

Saturday, 10:53 am

President Jeffrey R. Holland — Motions of a hidden fire

President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, opened the Saturday morning session of general conference by speaking about the passing of his wife, Pat."She was the greatest woman I have ever known — a perfect wife and mother, to say nothing of her purity, gift of expression, and spirituality," he said.He said 48 hours after his wife's burial, he was rushed to the hospital and spent four weeks in the intensive care unit going in and out of consciousness and two weeks recovering. He doesn't remember almost any of that hospital stay, but he shared that he received "an admonition to return to (his) ministry with more urgency, more consecration, more focus on the Savior, and more faith in his word."

"I cannot speak fully of that [hospital] experience here, but I can say part of what I received was an admonition to return to my ministry with more urgency, more consecration, more focus on the Savior, more faith in His word." - President @hollandjeffreyr #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/nYYH86GvLk

— Church News (@the_churchnews) April 6, 2024His experience renewed his faith in the strength of prayers and that every prayer is heard and answered. The prayers for the restoration of his wife's health were heard and answered just like the prayers for him were heard and answered, even if it was in a different way.

"It is for reasons known only to God why prayers are answered differently than we hope—but I promise they are heard, and they are answered according to His unfailing love and cosmic timetable." —President @HollandJeffreyR #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/7ksZbFmGd9

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) April 6, 2024"Our prayers are our 'sweetest hour,' our 'most sincere desire,' our simplest, purest form of worship," he said.President Holland mentioned that he always thought it was curious that Jesus Christ prayed at all, considering his divine nature. He believes that this was because Christ also wanted to communicate with Heavenly Father to the point of praying privately, publicly, and even to the point of bleeding from every pore.He concluded by sharing that when Christ returns, he will need more than a "faded baptismal record" to know us. Instead, he needs "thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples."— Jenny Rollins